Unit 2 • Session 2
UNIT 2
Session 2
Use Week of:
October 25
9:30am
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t understand God’s
BIBLE PASSAGE:
MAIN POINT:
plan.
Romans 4:3
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What did God promise? God made a covenant to
bless His people.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE:
2
SMALL GROUP OPENING
LARGE BIBLE STUDY
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES
(10–15 MINUTES)
(25–30 MINUTES)
(25–30 MINUTES)
PAGE 124
PAGE 126
PAGE 132
Leader BIBLE STUDY
When Abraham was well over 100 years old, he received
another message from God. It was a test, actually. God
instructed Abraham to take his son Isaac, the son of
promise, and sacrifice him on a mountain God would tell
him about. Abraham had waited so many years for this
child!
But Abraham obeyed. He got up early the next day and
left for his trip. Not waiting around to see if God would
change His mind, he saddled the donkey, took the wood,
two servants, and his son, and left on the journey as God
commanded.
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
© 2015 LifeWay
3/9/15 8:02 PM
As Isaac walked with his father, he noticed something was
missing. They had the wood and the fire, but “Where is the
lamb?” Isaac asked. Abraham answered that God Himself
would provide. And God did indeed.
By this point, Abraham had supreme faith that God was
able to do anything. Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us a peek
inside Abraham’s mind: “He considered God to be able even
to raise someone from the dead.”
2
God provided a ram for the burnt offering in place of Isaac,
who was spared. After what we might imagine was quite a
worship service, Abraham and Isaac returned home.
In the New Testament, God brings through John the
Baptist the final answer to Isaac’s inquiry, “Where is the
lamb?” “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world!” (John 1:29). God provided a ram for Abraham,
but for all of humanity He has provided His Son, Jesus
Christ, the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Additional resources for each session are available at
gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session
help, visit www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject.
God the Covenant-Maker
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The BIBLE STORY
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
God kept His promise to give Abraham a son.
Abraham and his wife Sarah were very old when their
son Isaac was born. One day, God tested Abraham. God
wanted to make sure that Abraham loved God most
of all.
“Abraham,” God said.
“Here I am,” Abraham answered.
“Take your son Isaac to the mountain and give him to
Me as a sacrifice,” God said.
A sacrifice is anything of value brought to God as a way
to show obedience, love, thanksgiving, or the need for
forgiveness. During Old Testament times, a sacrifice usually
involved killing an animal. This time, God asked Abraham
to sacrifice his son Isaac instead.
Abraham obeyed God. He got up early the next day
and left with Isaac, two servants, and a donkey carrying
supplies. They walked for three days before they got
to the mountain where God wanted Abraham to make
the sacrifice. Abraham asked his servants to stay with the
donkey, and he and Isaac went up the mountain with the
supplies for the sacrifice.
Isaac noticed something was missing. “My father,” he
said, “where is the lamb for the offering?”
Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the
lamb.”
When they got to the place God had directed them,
Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on top. Then
he put Isaac on top of the wood. Just as Abraham was
about to sacrifice Isaac, the Angel of the Lord called out,
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
“Abraham, Abraham!”
Abraham stopped. The Angel of the Lord said, “Do
not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For
now I know that you fear God, since you have not
withheld your only son from Me.”
Abraham looked up and saw a ram trapped by its
horns in the bushes. He offered to God the ram instead
of Isaac. Abraham named the place, “The Lord Will
Provide.”
The Angel of the Lord reminded Abraham that God
would keep the covenant He made with Abraham. God
again promised to bless Abraham, to make his family as
numerous as all the stars in the sky and the sand on the
seashores. God promised victory over Abraham’s enemies
and blessing to all the earth through Abraham’s family.
Christ Connection: Abraham showed his love for God by
being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. This is how God showed
His love for us: He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so
that we could have eternal life through Him.
God the Covenant-Maker
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WANT TO
DISCOVER
GOD’S WORD?
GET
BIBLE EXPRESS!
Invite kids to check
out this week’s
devotionals to
discover that just as
God provided a ram
as a substitute for
Isaac, He provided His
Son, Jesus, to be the
perfect sacrifice for
sin. (1 John 2:12)
Order in bulk,
subscribe quarterly,
or purchase
individually. For
more information,
check out
www.lifeway.com/
devotionals.
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Small Group OPENING
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
MAIN POINT: Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t understand God’s
plan.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE: Romans 4:3
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What did God promise? God made a covenant to
bless His people.
SESSION TITLE:
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Welcome time
Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect
the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids
connect to your group. Prompt kids to share about a time
when they had to trust someone else.
Activity page (5 minutes)
• “What’s Wrong?”
activity page,
1 per kid
• pencils or markers
EP
LOW PR
• paper
• pencils
Distribute activity pages and challenge kids to find the six
items in the scene that do not belong.
SAY • The two people in this picture were father and son.
Does anyone know who they are? (Abraham and
Isaac) We will learn more about them in our Bible
story today.
Session starter (10 minutes)
Pop quiz
Give each kid a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct boys
and girls to number their papers from 1 to 10. Ask the
following questions about the Bible. (Note: These questions
are intentionally difficult! It’s OK if kids don’t know the
answers.) Then review the answers together.
1. How many books are in the Bible? (66)
2. Who wrote the first five books of the Bible? (Moses)
OPTION 1:
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
3. The average blue whale is about 75 feet long. How
many blue whales would you have to line up to equal
the length of Noah’s ark? (about 6, Noah’s ark was
about 450 feet long; Gen. 6:15)
4. What is the first of the Ten Commandments? (Do not
have other gods besides Me, Ex. 20:3)
5. How many Bible books are named after women?
(two, Esther and Ruth)
6. Saul had two names. What was Saul’s Roman name?
(Paul, Acts 13:9)
7. Who was King Solomon’s dad? (King David)
8. How many chapters are in the Bible? (1,189)
9. What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? (Ps. 117)
10. How old was the oldest person mentioned in the
Bible? (Methuselah lived 969 years, Gen. 5:27)
SAY • Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible
about a time God tested Abraham. God’s test for
Abraham was very hard. God tested Abraham’s faith
to see if Abraham really trusted God.
God the Covenant-Maker
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Large Group LEADER
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
MAIN POINT: Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t understand God’s
plan.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE: Romans 4:3
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What did God promise? God made a covenant to
bless His people.
SESSION TITLE:
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Countdown
• countdown video
Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to
end as large group time begins.
Introduce the session (3 minutes)
• leader attire
• rolls of streamer
• firewood or bundle
of sticks
[Large Group Leader enters carrying a few rolls of streamer and
a piece of firewood or bundle of sticks. Leader sets the items on
the floor or a table at the front of the room.]
LEADER • Welcome back, everyone! If you were here last
time, you might remember that I am in the middle
of helping two of my friends get ready for their
wedding. They are getting ready to make a covenant,
promising to be with each other for the rest of their
lives. Oh, I love weddings! But this is becoming a lot
of work. I’m supposed to be decorating. I have some
streamers here, and some firewood … how on earth
do you decorate with firewood? I do not understand
my friends’ plan for decorating. When the bride
finishes taste-testing wedding cake, I will have to ask
her what is going on.
Hey, that reminds me of today’s Bible story. Raise
your hand if you remember what we learned about
last time.
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
Giant timeline (2 minutes)
Point out “God’s Covenant with Abraham” on the giant
timeline. Remind kids that God had called Abraham to
leave his home and go to a place God would tell him about.
God made a covenant with Abraham, and He promised to
bless all the world through Abraham.
LEADER • God promised to give Abraham a family, even
though he and his wife were old and did not have
any kids. God kept His promise, and He gave
Abraham a son named Isaac.
Here is today’s Bible story: “God Tested
Abraham.” Oh, boy. I wonder what kind of test
this was. I wonder if Abraham had to study very
hard. Do you think he passed the test? I hope he
remembered his number two pencil!
• Giant Timeline
Tell the Bible story (10 minutes)
Open your Bible to Genesis 22. Tell the Bible story in your
own words, or show the Bible story video “God Tested
Abraham.” After kids hear the story, pile some firewood or
sticks at the front of the room.
LEADER • Abraham and Isaac went to the mountain where
God wanted Abraham to make the sacrifice. Isaac
carried the supplies for his father, but he noticed
something was missing. A sacrifice usually involved
killing an animal. Where was the lamb for the
sacrifice? Abraham said, “God will provide.”
Putting his son on the altar was probably very
hard for Abraham to do, but Abraham trusted God
even when he didn’t understand God’s plan. God
had made a promise to Abraham. What did God
God the Covenant-Maker
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• Bibles
• “God Tested
Abraham” video
• Big Picture Question
Poster
• Bible Story Picture
Poster
• Main Point Poster
• firewood or sticks
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promise? God made a covenant to bless His people.
God promised that Abraham would have a large
family, but how could that happen if God took his
son? [See Heb. 11:17-19.] God saw that Abraham
trusted Him, and the angel told Abraham not to
hurt Isaac. God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
Give a Bible to two kids. Instruct one kid to find and read
Genesis 22:12. Then lead the other to read John 3:16.
LEADER • Abraham showed his love for God by being
willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. This is how God
showed His love for us: He sent His Son, Jesus, to
die on the cross so that we could have eternal life
through Him.
The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional)
Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to
explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign
individuals to meet with kids who have more questions.
Encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small
group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they
may have about becoming a Christian.
Big picture question (1 minute)
• Big Picture Question
Poster
Call on random boys and girls to answer the big picture
question. If a kid struggles to answer, allow him to read the
answer from the big picture question poster.
LEADER • What did God promise? God made a covenant
to bless His people. God said that through Abraham’s
family, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
God blesses all the nations of the earth through His
Son, Jesus, who was born into Abraham’s family.
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
Key passage (4 minutes)
LEADER • Trusting
God during hard times can be difficult,
but even when God asked Abraham to give up his
son Isaac, Abraham trusted God. That’s what our key
passage is about. Let’s read it together.
Lead kids to read Romans 4:3 from the key passage poster.
LEADER • Someone is righteous if he never sins (like Jesus),
so how could Abraham be righteous? A person is also
righteous if God takes away his sin and trades it for
Jesus’ righteousness.
Abraham did not know that God was going to
send His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sin,
but he trusted that God would keep His promise to
bless the whole world through him. Abraham did
not know how God would do it, but because he had
faith, God counted his sin as righteousness.
When we trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, He
takes away our sin and gives us His righteousness.
Play the key passage song and invite kids to sing along.
God the Covenant-Maker
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• Key Passage Poster
• “Abraham” song
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Prayer (2 minutes)
Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups.
LEADER • Father God, You are good. Thank You for sparing
Isaac by providing a ram instead. Thank You for
sparing our lives, too. We know we deserve to die
because of our sin, but You sent Your Son, Jesus, to
die in our place. Thank You for giving up Your Son
as our substitute. We do not deserve Him, but we
joyfully accept Him. We love You. Amen.
Dismiss to small groups
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me
Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel
means “good news.” It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God,
and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids.
God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created
everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read
Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud
and explain what these verses mean.
We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has
chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is
holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s
punishment of death. (Romans 6:23)
God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God
sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from
the punishment we deserve. It’s something we, as sinners, could never earn on
our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9.
Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the
cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can
be welcomed into God’s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read
Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:19.
We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read
Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart
that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s already done on the cross. Repent,
turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus.
Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus.
God the Covenant-Maker
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Small Group LEADER
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
MAIN POINT: Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t understand God’s
plan.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE: Romans 4:3
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What did God promise? God made a covenant to
bless His people.
SESSION TITLE:
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Key passage activity (5 minutes)
• Key Passage Poster
• chalkboards or dry
erase boards, 2
• chalk or markers
Option: Review
the gospel with
boys and girls.
Explain that kids are
welcome to speak
with you or another
teacher if they have
questions.
Form two teams and instruct them to line up single file
at one side of the room. At the other side of the room,
position a chalkboard across from each team. Write the first
word of the key passage on each chalkboard.
Give the first player on each team a piece of chalk.
When you say go, she should run to the chalkboard and
write the next word of the key passage. She will return the
chalk to the next player who will write the next word.
Each player may either write the next word or, if the
previous player made a mistake, he may erase the previous
word and write the correct word. The first team to correctly
write the key passage wins.
SAY • Can anyone tell me what it means to be righteous?
(to be perfect, without sin) How can a sinner become
righteous? (When a sinner trusts in Jesus, God takes
away her sin and trades it for Jesus’ righteousness.)
Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes)
• Bibles, 1 per kid
• Main Point Poster
Lead kids to act out the Bible story. Copy the following
script for volunteers to read as they act out the roles of
Abraham, Isaac, two servants, the Angel of the Lord, and
the ram. Remaining kids can follow along in their Bibles.
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
One day, God tested Abraham. God
wanted to make sure that Abraham loved God
most of all. God said, “Take your son Isaac to the
mountain and give him to Me as a sacrifice.”
Abraham got up early the next day and left with
Isaac, two servants, and a donkey carrying supplies.
They walked for three days before they got to the
mountain where God wanted Abraham to make the
sacrifice. Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain
with the supplies for the sacrifice.
ISAAC: My father, where is the lamb for the offering?
ABRAHAM: God Himself will provide the lamb.
NARRATOR: When they got to the place, Abraham built
an altar. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac,
the Angel of the Lord called out.
ANGEL OF THE LORD: Abraham, Abraham!
NARRATOR: Abraham stopped.
ANGEL OF THE LORD: Do not lay a hand on the boy or
do anything to him. For now I know that you fear
God, since you have not withheld your only son
from Me.
NARRATOR: Abraham looked up and saw a ram trapped
by its horns in the bushes. He offered the ram to
God instead of sacrificing Isaac.
NARRATOR:
If time allows, choose new volunteers to play the roles.
Encourage kids in the audience to gasp or cheer, providing
sound effects where appropriate.
SAY • Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t
understand God’s plan. Abraham was willing to
do anything for God because he feared God. He
God the Covenant-Maker
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respected God and loved Him. Would you be willing
to do anything God asked you to do?
Allow time for kids to think and discuss their responses.
Activity choice (10 minutes)
EP
LOW PR
• Bibles, 1 per kid
• index cards
• pencils
OPTION 1: Good question! game
Give each kid an index card, a pencil, and a Bible. Guide
kids to find Genesis 22:1-19. Instruct boys and girls to read
over the verses and write on the index card a question about
the Bible story. Questions should begin with Who, What,
When, Where, or Why? Tell kids to include the verse number
where the answer can be found.
Collect the cards and read them one at a time. Challenge
kids to answer the questions. Consider these examples:
1. When did Abraham go to the mountain? (early in the
morning, Gen. 22:3)
2. What was missing? (the lamb, Gen. 22:7)
3. Whom did Abraham say would provide the lamb?
(God, Gen. 22:8)
SAY • Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice his son
Isaac? We know that God was testing Abraham, but
Abraham did not know that. Abraham trusted God
even when he didn’t understand God’s plan.
Point out that Isaac trusted his father, Abraham. Who else
trusted His Father no matter what? (Jesus) Remind kids that
God gave up His Son to rescue people from sin.
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Older Kids Leader Guide
Unit 2 • Session 2
3/9/15 8:02 PM
use stickers or silver markers to fill the sky with stars.
As kids work, talk about God’s promise to Abraham.
What did God say about the stars in the sky and the sand
on the seashore?
SAY • God spared Isaac, and He kept His promise to
Abraham to make his offspring as numerous as the
stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.
Through Isaac, Abraham’s family grew, and
eventually God’s Son, Jesus, was born into
Abraham’s family. Through Him, all the nations of
the earth are blessed.
God the Covenant-Maker
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“Abraham believed
God, and it was
counted to him as
righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
Key Passage (ESV) • Kids • Unit 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
“Abraham believed
God, and it was
credited to him as
righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
Key Passage (NIV) • Kids • Unit 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
Abraham trusted
God even
when he didn’t
understand
God’s plan.
Main Point • Kids • Unit 2, Session 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
God Tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19) • Unit 2, Session 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
Write about a tough situation you currently face or
a question you have about the future. Pray about
those things this week and ask God to help you
trust Him and His plan.
God Tested Abraham
Genesis 22:1-19
FOLD
MAIN POINT: ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD EVEN WHEN
HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN.
FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS
•Sometimes it is hard to obey. Tell
about a time when obeying was
hard for you.
•Whom did God provide as
our substitute? (Jesus took the
punishment we deserve for our sin.)
God kept His promise to give Abraham a son. Abraham and his wife Sarah
were very old when their son Isaac was born. One day, God tested Abraham. God
wanted to make sure that Abraham loved God most of all.
“Take your son Isaac to the mountain and give him to Me as a sacrifice,” God
said. Abraham obeyed God. He got up early the next day and left with Isaac, two
servants, and a donkey carrying supplies. They walked for three days before they
got to the mountain where God wanted Abraham to make the sacrifice. Abraham
and Isaac went up the mountain with the supplies for the sacrifice.
Isaac noticed something was missing. “My father,” he said, “where is the lamb
for the offering?”
Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb.”
When they got to the place God had directed them, Abraham built an altar
and placed the wood on top. Then he put Isaac on top of the wood. Just as
Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, the Angel of the Lord called out, “Abraham,
Abraham!”
Abraham stopped. The Angel of the Lord said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy
or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not
withheld your only son from Me.”
Abraham looked up and saw a ram trapped by its horns in the bushes. He
offered to God the ram instead of Isaac.
Christ Connection: Abraham showed his love for God by being willing to sacrifice
his son Isaac. This is how God showed His love for us: He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on
the cross so that we could have eternal life through Him.
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Some of the things in this scene are wrong.
Find and circle the six items that do not belong.
Use the code to color the picture. What did God provide
as a sacrifice for Isaac? Whom did God provide as a
sacrifice for us?
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What did God
promise?
Big Picture Question and Answer • Kids • Unit 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
What did God
promise?
God made a
covenant to bless
His people.
Big Picture Question and Answer • Kids • Unit 2 • © 2015 LifeWay OK to Print